Lately, I’ve become a little wistful for Past Theodora. The Theodora who ran faster and more often. Who PRed all the time. Who weighed less.

I’m trying to let go of some of that comparing myself to my past self.

That self had more time on her hands, less responsibility, less friends.

I’m in a phase where I’m trying really hard to listen to my body for aches and pains going into marathon training, but where I also want to work out HARD. Basically I’m just being really cautious.

Because all I really want is a one-way ticket to PR City. I probably won’t PR multiple distances this year the way I used to, but …I’d like to try.

And the important race is 11/12 — the Richmond Marathon. I really want to shave off at least 6 minutes from my PR, but I know I was in better shape three years ago.

Basically, I know my work is CUT OUT for me. But I’m ready.

Starting with the Mini 10K tomorrow. I’m not going to race it but I’ll run it to the damn best of my ability tomorrow.

A few years ago, an old coworker challenged me to a race. He is a CrossFitter/sprinter type; I enjoy half marathons and marathons.

A mile, to him, is “long distance.” A mile, to me, is a sprint. We decided that a 800 (half a mile) was the optimal distance, and after several false starts, we decided that we’d race the last week of June.

As it just so happens, I’ve been on several dates with a fellow who, as one of his side hustles, coaches high school track. We ran an 800 as a baseline the other day — 3:36. I have no idea what my “real” mile pace would be, but I thought it’d be a hair faster than 7:00, so I was a little disappointed in that time but took it as just what it was — a baseline.

So, this fellow has been texting me speed workouts (that’s romance to me, people), and short distance speedwork? Yowzers. Marathon speedwork usually means running 7-8 miles.

Yesterday’s workout:

1 mile warm up

2 400s

1 800

1 mile cooldown

There’s a track at 27th and 10th I’ve been running at sometimes, but I *thought* there was a track right by the West Side Highway at that soccer field there, so I ran over there. Spoiler alert: there’s not. No problem, I figured I’d just run the speedwork on the WSH or on a pier.

This fellow wanted me to run the 400s in 85-90 seconds. LOLLLLLL.

The second one, I was DETERMINED to run faster…and I did! It took me a bit to stop the app, but I think the .25 was about 1:46.

I accidentally deleted the 800, but I ran it in about 3:40 because my fast-twitch muscles were DOOOONE.

I jogged/hobbled the mile back home and thought about how I’d much rather run 20 miles than attempt to sprint but that this is a fun challenge.

Long distance runners: do you ever try to run shorter distances/races and also want to go curl up and die under a rock, or just me?